As My Mentors Had Done For Me

Written by Angielene Agliam

Becky Pineda and Hannah Powers-Howard are the kind of students every college wants on their campus. Sophomores at Northern Arizona University and Baylor University respectively, they are academically engaged, involved in their campus communities, and making the most of their college experience. Hannah, a major in Communication Sciences and Disorders, is a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and the National Speech Hearing and Language Association. She also assists with the children’s ministry at the Antioch Community Church. Becky, a major in Psychology with a Business minor, is a member of Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity for Women serving as the Leadership Council Vice President and an advocate for National Student Exchange.

Hannah and Becky are graduates of Kamiah High School and former participants for Bridge Idaho’s Upward Bound project. As Bridge Idaho students, these lifelong friends created their own path toward college success, including spending summers enrolled in dual-enrollment courses and traveling far from home. Now, they both possess a deeply rooted desire to give back to what they call, the best thing that has ever happened to them.

“I’m constantly reminded of the rewarding experiences I’ve had with Bridge Idaho and I always take that with me wherever I go,” Becky reflected. “It really made me step out of my comfort zone and realize how independent I could be. I remember thinking—I can really do this! It seemed like a big commitment at the time to take a whole month out of my summer without knowing what to expect, but my experience went beyond those summer months and will be rewarding throughout my life.”

Hannah added, “My experience with Bridge Idaho Upward Bound prior to coming to school out-of-state was such a blessing. I became used to being in bigger cities, different environments, with different people, so it was not intimidating when I made the decision to come this far.”
In the summer of 2012, Becky and Hannah became mentors for the Bridge Idaho program. “When I found out I had the opportunity to apply as a mentor, I was very enthusiastic about it. My mentors helped me so much throughout the years and I really wanted to be able to give back as well,” said Becky.

As mentors, the two were able to take an active interest in the lives of other students—sharing their own experiences with them and reflecting on how Bridge Idaho had made an impact on their lives. Hannah stated, “Being a mentor taught me to never assume you know someone as well as you can. Our students had talents I had never seen before and struggles I would have never known without being their mentor, rather than their peer. I was blown away by our students.”

“I know what it’s like to grow up in a small town in the Clearwater Valley area just like all of our students, where opportunities are limited and it’s hard to break away. I wanted to be able to inspire these students to set the bar higher for themselves as my mentors had done for me,” concluded Becky.